Laneway-Singapore 2013

Laneway Festival may be months and months and months ago but it still is my big thing of 2013. Looking back, I embarked to Singapore with no less than an exact budget with only (exact!) PhP 300 in my wallet when I got back to Manila. And so, yes — two things:

1. SAVE UP GUYS! I’ve never realized that I haven’t been saving up enough when I arrived in the Philippines with barely enough funds to get through until payday.

2. If you’re up for anything goes, fine. But always bring extra money. I was just lucky, there’s unlimited Koko Krunch in the hostel to at least keep me alive if ever I lost my money – which I didn’t, haha!

Gad, I can digress like an ADHD kid. So on to my Laneway review. I believe there’s no better way for me to give you a feel of the music fest but to share a playlist, so download freely!

Also, this is my first music festival abroad, so some little tips for you if ever you go to Laneway next year (or any music festival, like Wanderland in Manila this May, for that matter.)

TAKE NOTE OF THE WEATHER

The sun can be a bitch. And so can the rain. So give yourself heads up on the weather for your own good. Bring a poncho, ’cause you can use this whether the sun is up or it’s pouring down. ALSO, sun block. For that —

EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE USE OF SUN BLOCK (HAHA!)

I’m saying this because I don’t really use sun block, and I didn’t know you have to apply every hour. I didn’t even bother reading the fine print, haha stupid. Anyway, for tropical countries like Singapore where the whole country can get feverish (40 degrees!!! Jeez.) save yourself from UV, do your skin a favor. I got really bad sunburns just because of this. SO. DON’T. SKIP. THIS.

WEATHER-PROOF YOUR GADGETS

As much as your skin needs protection, so do your gadgets. I’ve heard horror stories from the first Laneway in Singapore where it was actually called Rainway because it rained so hard and where some friends went home with non-functional phones and cameras. Bring cases that insulate your babies from heat and water, and you’ll thank me for being able to bring back home your camera or phone alive.

DON’T BOTHER BRINGING WATER BOTTLES

It’s in the rules actually, so it’s senseless to put it here. But I’ve seen some other who brought their own flasks. So yeah, try your luck! I really wish I brought at least a flask, ’cause the beer can cost you up to S$10!

EAT HEAVY MEALS

‘Cause lines can get so long! And it’s also expensive. What we did though for dinner is we went out to Marina Bay Sands (quite a walk, though) and ate at Rasapura instead.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVETURE

The festival ended at 1am, and there’s no train or bus anymore at Singapore at that time. So you have three choices — wait in line for two hours for a cab, walk to your place, or just leave early. I actually walked from Marina Bay to Chinatown, where I’m staying, and it wasn’t so bad. I’m so tired by then but walking in the Lion City is really a pleasure. Plus, you can easily use your gadgets while walking since it’s very secure there!

KEEP OPEN EYES AND EARS

You don’t know who you’ll be meeting at the festival. It’s actually nice to make some new friends there, especially you’re all there with the same interest, and eventually look them up at Facebook or Twitter to connect with them. We saw this too as a good opportunity to promote the Philippines to some of our new friends!

DANCE TO YOUR HEARTS CONTENT

There is free space for everyone to dance and go crazy, for as long as you’re not drunk, ’cause they might detain you. Scary. But after you read this, you may forget all of these, but don’t ever ever forget to enjoy your time and have fun at the festival! It’s what it’s for and you did not just pay S$145 just to sulk under the sun.

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I’m really thinking if this could be a yearly thing for me. And yes, if the line up’s as good as this year’s, Imma haul my ass back to Singapore for some more!

He drinks coffee day in, day out. Iced Americano is his poison of choice, anytime anywhere.

He works in digital advertising but this blog is not about his job. Jonver overshares about his travels, boy dreams, and existentiality on his little space in the world wide web. He finds drunk tweeting amusing - all the more because he's funnier that way.

He likes to believe that his name is so unique he feels confident to ask you to search his name instead of giving his social media handles.